German crime thriller's right at home in America

Sunday

An exciting residual of the popularity of Stieg Larsson's dragon-tattooed girl is that international crime fiction has become more attractive and accessible to U.S. publishers and readers.

"Snow White Must Die" by German author Nele Neuhaus quickly became a best-seller in Europe when it was released in 2010. It is just now being published in the United States and its engrossing plot, intriguing characters and unpredictable twists should make it a rival for the acclaim that Larsson and other Scandinavian authors have amassed.

Although translated into English from German, the adaptation seems flawless. "Snow White Must Die" is a powerful psychological tale of how the murder of two teenage girls a decade ago continues to reverberate through a small community. It is a story of greed, gossip, hatred and revenge, of lives ruined and of extreme cruelty.

More than 11 years ago, two teenage girls vanished from the close-knit German village of Altenhain. Although their bodies were never found, 20-year-old Tobias Sartorius was convicted on circumstantial evidence. Now released after 10 years in prison, Tobias' return to his hometown is anything but smooth. Unknown to him, his parents have separated, his father's once thriving bar and restaurant are shuttered and their farm is in tatters. The entire community has ostracized Tobias' family and now turns its venom on him, despite his only allies — the town's wealthiest man and a famous actress who was a childhood friend.

Police detectives Pia Kirchhoff and Oliver von Bodenstein become involved when Tobias' mother is attacked and thrown from a bridge. Although they believe him guilty, the two detectives begin an independent investigation into Tobias' case.

"Snow White Must Die" moves at a brisk clip, delivering a gripping universal story. While Neuhaus includes myriad details that are unique to Germany, "Snow White Must Die" could easily have taken place in any small town in America."

Snow White Must Die" is storytelling at its best.

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